The Heart Does Not Grow Back, by Fred Venturini

Dale was just your average high school guy.  So when he realizes, after an unfortunate incident involving his dream girl, Dale realizes he has developed the ability to regenerate limbs, he realizes he can no longer pass for average.  Eventually, Dale gets a chance to use his strange ability for extreme good, but it may his downfall.

I am a fan of dark comedy; it certainly is not for everyone, but for those who do enjoy dark or gallows humor, this is a great book.  Sometimes that darkness sheds the most light on the truth of life, and I think this book does just that. This is an incredibly mix of humor, body horror, and stark reality regarding the politics of everyday life.

The characters in the book are strongly written, and really drive the action in this story. Dale is damaged in ways to which readers will easily relate.  I found the writing to be fresh and new, and I am quite excited to see where Venturini goes from here.  All in all, a great book.

I received a review copy courtesy TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

The Serpent of Venice, by Christopher Moore

The envoy of the Queen has been invited to dinner, but not all is as it seems.  The invitation is a trap, set by three dastardly plotters- a merchant, a senator, and a naval military officer.  You see, the envoy is in the way of these men; he blocks their quest for wealth and power.  They simply must get rid of him.  But rest assured, he will not go quietly.

I have had many books by this author on my "to read" lists over the years, but this is the first one I have actually gotten to read, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.  I consider myself to be a great fan of classic literature, and while I do hold it in some reverence, I am also a fan of a good satire or parody.  So I was quite happy to see that the author does a great job of parodying some classic literary tropes and mechanisms in a humorous way.  The book left me chuckling numerous times.

From what I gather, the character of Pocket is one that has been previously introduced in the author's writing.  However, I did not feel like I had was out of the loop, having not read any of the previous books.  Perhaps if I were to read them now, this book would become even more enjoyable to me, but nevertheless, I feel like the characters and the writing stood on their own.

While a good understanding or familiarity with Shakespeare is helpful for the full enjoyment of the book, it is not entirely necessary.  Most importantly, one should go into it with an open mind and a sense of humor.  If you do that, you will find yourself in the middle of a highly entertaining book.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

I Can Barely Take Care of Myself, by Jen Kirkman

When people find out Jen does not want kids, they insist that she will change her mind, or they try to change it for her.  Being childless by choice is baffling to some people, and greatly misunderstood.  Jen uses her humor to power through most situations, explaining that she has a hard enough time keeping herself on track without being responsible for another, smaller, human.

As a person who is also living a childless life, I cannot fully express the extent to which I identified with this book.  And there are parts that are really really fun.  But there are also parts that broke my heart, and made me mad, because they were situations I have also faced.  I am not sure at which point it became culturally acceptable to not only ask personal questions about one's reproductive plans, but also to pass judgement on someone because of their choice to not have children.  But apparently it now IS culturally acceptable, because it happens all the time.

I will admit, I did expect the book to be a little bit funnier.  And maybe if I were not dealing with the same situations myself, it would have translated into sidesplitting laughter to me.  But really, nothing is funny about being judged, belittled, or patronized over one's reproductive choices.  However, what the book lacked in hilarity it made up for in relatability.  So, I still think, overall, the book is great.

Those who are fans of humor memoirs, or those who are also childless by choice, will appreciate the book.

This book is from my personal library; I wrote an honest review by choice.

How Not to Be a Dick, by Meghan Doherty

There are a lot of dicks in the world; sometimes they are dicks on purpose, and sometimes they simply do not know any better.  Everyone could benefit from this simple, straightforward guide on how to avoid acts of dickery. Sound, solid advice, delivered in a playful, light hearted manner.

I love books that does not take life too seriously, so this book was right up my alley.  Somewhat modeled after the straight-laced etiquette and advice books from the 50s, this book is fun and sassy.  Yet at its very heart, this is a great book with advice that every human should follow.  Imagine how much better our world would be if everyone reduced their dickish behavior by even 15%.

This book caused me to laugh out loud numerous times, not only because the writing is so witty and clever, but also because the commentary on human behavior is so spot on accurate.  The book is perfect for older teens and young adults, because it addresses some situations that may be new to them, such as dickery in the workplace.  

All in all, I thought this was a fun little read, and I would recommend it to anyone who has a sense of humor.

I received a review copy courtesy of the Amazon Vine program, in exchange for my honest review.

Papal Bull, by Joe Wenke

In this book, the author makes clear his opinions on particular aspects of Catholic doctrine.  A cutting, satirical look at Catholic beliefs regarding saints, Mary, birth control, the treatment of women, and of course the huge scandalous cover-up of molestation.

This is a book with little gray area.  Currently practicing Catholics are going to hate it.  Former Catholics and those who morally oppose everything about the Catholic Church will love it.  I am attempting to review it from an objective perspective, favoring neither of those two extremes.

On the one hand, I think the author raises a lot of valid points regarding doctrinal contradiction and hypocrisy.  He clearly is well educated in catechetical topics.  However, I do get the impression that some of the statements and language used in the book are for shock value.  And, I suppose that is ok; if the author feels the need to shock us, that purpose is clearly served in the book.  However, I think that a book would be more likely to convince someone were it based more of fact and research, instead of using shock tactics and some of the same old anti-Catholic sentiments that have been around for years.

I suppose, though, that the book's main purpose is not to convince anyone, but instead to amuse people who already share these same beliefs.  That is ok by we, know your target audience and give them what you want I guess.  Regardless of whether or not I agree with any portion of the message of this book, I think it does what it sets out to do, and it does it pretty well.  

Again, this book is probably most appropriate for those who are at odds with the Catholic church in some way, or those Catholics who are not easily offended.

I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

 

Texts from Bennett, by Mac Lethal

Mac is a rapper, and despite the fact that he is white, he does not aspire to be the "next Eminem".  In fact, Mac stays far away from the gangsta, thug image.  That is, until is thug wanna be cousin Bennett (along with his mom and stepdad) moves in with Mac.  Bennett spends most of his time trying to hook up with girls, keeping from losing his job, and getting high, all while claiming to be a member of the Crips.  Bennett often communicates with Mac via unintentionally hilarious text messages, where topics range from Bennett's money making schemes in the neighborhood to his stuffed animal, Hustla tha Rabbit.

I was a fan of the "Texts from Bennett" tumblr account shortly after it started.  I never really cared if the whole thing was true or not, all I knew was it was totally irreverent and completely hilarious.  And I feel the same exact way about this book.  The book is marketed as a novel, which indicates it is fictional; in the past Mac has purported the texts and his cousin are real, just under a pseudonym.  Either fact or fiction, it makes no difference; this book will make you laugh.

I was more than a little impressed with how well this book was written.  When you hear someone is a rapper, you do not often expect eloquence, but with Mac Lethal, you get it.  And the story is quick to point out that even though Bennett is not as eloquent as Mac, he is every bit as intelligent.  Mac does a wonderful job developing Bennett as a character, and the story has an unbelievable amount of heart.

Make no mistake, the language and subject matter is rough.  A lot of the male characters in the book are gang members, use drugs, and talk about women as if they were objects.  But it does paint a picture of a certain subculture.  The book does not take itself to seriously, but it is in no way a mere lampoon.  By the end of the book, you see a lot of good in characters who are the kind of people who are typically overlooked.

I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

 

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, by Mindy Kaling

Best know as a writer and actress on the acclaimed comedy show "The Office", Mindy Kaling lived a hilarious life well before anyone knew who she was.  In this collection of essays, she talks about being bullied because of her weight, misadventures in New York City, lifelong friendships, and her directives for her own funeral.  All wrapped up in her own signature Mindy style.

I have long been a fan of Mindy Kaling, since her first days on the "The Office".  I think she is tremendously funny, and very multifaceted.  This collection of essays proves that I am right, on both accounts.  I really loved this collection of essays.  Some are light and fluffy, others are serious and heartbreaking.  I love when Mindy opens up about how her hobby is trying new diets, and how she was bullied for her weight when she was younger.  She talks about things in an honest way.  People assume that because she is a comedy writer and actress, all aspects of her life must be recounted with hilarity.  Similarly, I think people assume because she is an Indian woman, that aspect of her being should be present, and prominently featured at all times.  I, on the contrary, love that Mindy shows that there is more to her than just being funny, or Indian, or single, or female, or Ivy League educated.  Because of this, a wide variety of people are able to connect with her writing.

Mindy writes that if this book takes you more than about a day to read, you are doing it wrong.  And I totally agree.  This is a quick, funny read, perfect for taking a break away from heavy novels or academic reading.  I loved the book, and personally hopes she writes another one.

This book is from my personal library.

Cold Case Morphs, by Barbara Silkstone

Morphs are people who wear full body morph suits, often as a way to escape their problems, and feel comfortable being their true selves.  A group of Morphs open a detective agency, specializing in cold cases, and their first case is as cold as they come.  While investigating a potential haunted house, Fedora and her fellow Morphs stumble onto a missing Hollywood director, a possible serial killer, and maybe, just maybe, true love.

Let's be honest up front, the idea of functioning in your everyday life while constantly wearing a Morph suit is a little, well, wacky.  So it stands to reason that a book about Morphs will also be a bit wacky, and it it is.  But it is wacky in a wonderful way.  Because many of the characters are wearing Morph suits, we learn very little about their physical appearance.  This forces us as readers to focus on their actions and personality traits in order to form opinions of them; in my mind, I bet these opinions are far more accurate than if we were to allowed to be influenced by physical appearance.  And in some ways, the mystery of these people in Morph suits is a little sexy.

Morph suits aside, the story at the heart of this novella is really quite normal.  A dash of mystery, some humor, romance, paranormal activity, and a few homages to some great 80s movies.  What is not to like?  I really liked the central mystery of the story.  I thought it was well developed and had many layers for such a quick read.  I liked the tie in a past story by the same author that involved Morphs, and I like the open ending that allows for more mystery Morph stories in the future.

Do not let the uniqueness of Morphs scare you off from this book; the story is so engaging, by the end, the Morphs seem like any other character, and though the story is unusual because of the Morphs, I think it is all the better for it.  I hope to see more Morph stories in the future!

I received a review copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.

Below Average Genius, by Michael Buzzelli

Life is full of ridiculous moments.  The type and gravity of these moments range from making up drag queen names to blowing off George Clooney at a restaurant.  Whatever the ridiculous moments are, they are deliciously hilarious.  Read this collection of articles and prepare for some belly laughs.  Each essay is a nugget of humor, yet most are infused with wisdom as well.

I started reading this book yesterday afternoon, while my husband was at work.  By the time I made it to page six, I was laughing, out loud, so much it echoed through our house.  By the time I was finished, my dogs were looking at me like I had two heads, because I was laughing so much.  The book is simply that funny.  What makes this book so amazing, in my opinion, is that the author is so down to earth and relatable.  Many of the stories he tells are about everyday occurrences, to which we all relate.  He spends a bit of time talking about his life in Pittsburgh, a very down to earth, working class city.  However, when he talks about his life in  Los Angeles, a city that screams glamour and pretense, he still has that same down to earth quality.  

When reading many of the anecdotes, I literally could see them play out in my mind, because the author paints such a vivid picture.  See if you can imagine a comic bombing on stage and throwing cookies at the audience without laughing.  But besides the vivid storytelling and unconcealed funniness in the situations themselves, there were also moments of wry, witty, wonderful writing.  Probably my favorite line in the book comes from a story about trivia from the lids of Snapple drinks: "The word facetious contains all the vowels in the English language in the correct order. And sometimes facetiously!".  It is the type of sentence that might fly right by you, but if you stop for a minute to get the joke, it is like someone just reached out and tickled you.  Those little moments of pure genius writing are sprinkled all throughout this book, which is reason enough to read it.

As a read this book (all in one sitting), I was a great many things.  I was smiling, giggling, laughing so hard I was crying.  But most importantly I was happy that I was lucky enough to get to read it.  This book is perfect for anyone who loves to laugh, not only at other people, but at themselves as well.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.

Coming of Age...AGAIN, by Carol Mizrahi

Sometimes, friendships last a lifetime.  This is certainly the case for Sylvia, Barbara, Irene, and Rochelle.  They met as girls, and their friendships have continued through all the various stages of life.  Now in their " early sixties, the women anticipate their "coming of age" moments and major life transitions are over.  They could not be more wrong.  Luckily, they always have each other for support during major life moments.

This book was so much fun to read, I read it straight through, snickering and giggling all the while.  I really loved how the author set the stage during the prologue, introducing the four main characters, and discussing how the friendships developed over their lifetime.  In just a few paragraphs, these characters were well developed, their personalities fleshed out in a way that helps ups prepare for each woman's story to come.

The characters are all Jewish women, and there seems to be a lot of Jewish wisdom and humor injected into this book.  While I am not Jewish, my brother is, and I really appreciated this aspect of the book.  I imagine my brother would be howling with laughter if he read this book.  There is so much heart in this story, I would love to have these women as friends.

I think there are some important life lessons in these women's stories.  My favorite is Rochelle, and they symbolism of the butterfly in her story.  Fans of chick lit will love this story, as will fans of humorous stories of everyday life.  This book was the perfect way to spend my Sunday morning.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.

236 Pounds of Class Vice President, by Jason Mulgrew

Jason Mulgrew spent his formative years growing up an an area of Philly that was more an extended family than a neighborhood.  He discussed the lonely and dangerous terrain of middle and high school, discussing such things as puberty, academic achievement, rites of passage, such as getting a driver's license, and the rocky terrain of teenage relationships.  And he does this all in a bawdy, tongue in cheek manor that appeals to fans of snarky humor.

Every now and then, one comes upon a book that changes the course of man kind, that appeals to the greatest minds of our time, that sends man on a soul searched trek in the desert.  This is not that book.  But what this book did, instead, was leave me laughing my butt off.  Mulgrew tells the stories of an awkward childhood, one to which I think most of us can relate to.  One reviewer suggested if one has a happy marriage or a healthy view on sexuality, this book will be disappointing.  I disagree. I read a particularly bawdy section regarding masturbation out loud to my husband, and we both laughed until tears rolled.  And the reason it is so funny is, we have all experienced these embarrassing, ridiculous, uncomfortable, and completely real moments in life, whether it is regarding masturbation techniques or failing your driving test.

As with his first book, I think that if one looks past the raunchy (and hilarious) stories, one sees a whole lot of earnestness in these stories.  We all knew kids like this in school, and in some ways, we were kids like this in school.  One certainly must have an open mind and a sense of humor to enjoy this book; luckily I have both.  I think the book will appeal to readers who like humorous memoirs, as well as anyone who suffered a few awkward childhood moments of their own.

I received a review copy courtesy of the Amazon Vine program.

 

Virgins, by Caryl Rivers

Growing up Catholic girl can be a little trying, as Peggy is able to prove.  Not only does she have to worry about the trials of her all girls high school, but her main squeeze is someone who plans to be a priest.  How will she ever lose her virginity this way?  Add to this a sudden loss, a change in her closest friendships, and the upcoming high school graduation, and you will see that coming of age, while uproariously hilarious, can also be a bit painful.

I really enjoyed this book, and found myself able to relate to parts of it.  While I grew up Catholic, I never attended Catholic school, and I came of age after Vatican II, but at the heart of things, all Catholic girls, to some extent, were a little like Peggy.  I think that is why I related to her character so well.  I dated a few boys who considered the priesthood, and trust me, it is pretty trying.

While the story is set in an unfamiliar era, so much of the things at the heart of the story are quite familiar.  The main focus of the story is Peggy's ability or inability to resolve the changing relationships in her life, with her family, friends, and boyfriend.  She is stuck in an awkward place between little girl and grown woman, and throughout the story we watch her slowly cross the divide.  

While there is a lot of discussion of sexuality in the book, I did not find it smutty, nor did I think it inappropriate for older teen readers.  While some teens may find the story a little hard to relate to, due to the timeframe of the setting, I still think many would enjoy this book.

I received a review copy of this book courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest opinion.  You can view the rest of the tour here.

 

Zo White and the Seven Morphs, by Barbara Silkstone

Zo White makes her living as an aerial acrobat, while seven men in morphsuits run around on the ground below her, acting as hypemen for the crowd of the Grimm Brothers Cirque.  When a tragic accident occurs during practice, it becomes clear that Zo is being targeted by a killer, and the Morphs decide to protect her.  This unlikely group gets involved in deadly situation including murder, drag queens, intrigue, turtles, mobsters, and some of the worst real estate ventures ever.  Who is behind all this deception, and more importantly, who are the men behind the morphsuits?

If you are looking for a fun read, a book that does not take itself too seriously, a story full of lighthearted comedy and heartwarming charm, then look no further.  Another book in the "Fractured Fairytales" series, this book is obviously a modern reimagining of the Snow White story.  But unlike with the Disneyfication of fairy tales, this version of Snow White is no wimp.  She is athletic, and crafty, and a total spitfire.  She would never waste her time merely singing with the birds, though she does spend quite a bit of time washing turtles.  I quite enjoyed Zo's character; she made me laugh at her antics, but more importantly, I rooted for her to have her own version of a happy ending.

Although the plot is humorous, it is also full of murder, mystery, and intrigue.  I find that, because of this, it is probably a lot closer to what fairy tales were originally intended to be.  This is obviously not a story for children, but really, neither were most of the original fairy tales.  I found the book to be quite witty, and I loved the subtle little references to many other fairy tales scattered throughout the book.  The book moves quickly, so readers need to stay on their toes.  At the end of the story, it will feel like you have been on a wild ride.  And like any ride, some will love it and some will hate it.  I went into this book looking for a flippant, slightly irreverent, funny alternative to the cookie cutter princess heroine.  And I think the book delivered just that.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author.

Dumb History, by Joey Green

We look around the world and see people making really really dumb decision, but this is nothing new.  History is rife with examples of truly dumb moves, and sometimes reading about them makes you feel a little bit smarter.  Whether it is a leader taking anti aging elixers that proved to be poisonous or the ridiculous trade of Babe Ruth, this book is full of examples where people make choices that turned out to be completely boneheaded.  So, the next time you feel stupid, read this and know you are in good company.

I am a sucker for these types of trivia books.  I never seem to find them boring, and no matter how many of them I read, I always seem to find several stories that are new to me.  While some of the information covered in this book is old news for me, I still found it highly entertaining.  When I read books of this nature, I always have to wonder about the legitimacy of the facts.  There is a list of references in the back of this book, but who is going to cross check all those facts?  Not me.  Nope, I will take his word for it, and snicker as I read.

My only real complaint about this book was a slight lack of flow.  I like books that are comprised of short articles or vignettes, so that did not bother me.  What bothered me was that they were not organized.  I would have liked it better if the book had been divided into chapters, like Dumb Sports, and Dumb Leaders.  Other than that, I thought this was a cute book, one that is a good discussion piece.  Because it is comprised of all these short entries, you can easily put it down and pick it up at a later date.  It is the perfect book to keep on your coffee table or your bathroom bookshelf to keep people entertained.  

I received a review copy of the book courtesy of the publisher.

I've Been Deader, by Adam Sifre

What is harder than the life of a zombie?  The life of a zombie in love with a breather.  Such is the trial of our undead pal Fred.  You would think Fred would have no trouble scoring with the lovely Aleta, since he is still capable of rational thought.  For some reason, maybe it is the putrifying flesh or the risk of zombie infection, Aleta is just not biting.  So, Fred is.  Now, Fred is trying to lead a zombie uprising, all while trying to find his son Timmy (or is it Tommy, Fred cannot quite remember).

You would think a zombie would not be a very sympathetic character, particularly one with a heavy handed approach to dating, yet I found myself quite sympathetic toward Fred.  It cannot be easy being a being a higher level zombie capable of rational thought, stuck in a shuffling decaying body.  I liked the concept of there not really being a "good guy" in this book.  Even the guy who tries to fight the zombies is not exactly good.  Every person, alive or undead, is only looking out for his or her own interests.

I thought the writing was really clever, and found myself chuckling many times throughout the book.  Each chapter is a story in and of itself, and the chapters are woven together for a truly brilliant overall story.  I thought the chapters from Fred's point of view were the best, but I liked that the story was well rounded, showing the different aspects of the plot.

I found the book to be really entertaining overall, and quite witty.  It is definitely not your everyday zombie book; I think it will appeal to zombie fanatics, as well as readers who enjoy snarky humor.  Since I enjoy both zombies and snark, this book was perfect for me.

This book is from my personal library.

Twice: How I Became a Cancer-Slaying Super Man Before I Turned 21, by Benjamin Rubenstein

Benjamin seemed like an ordinary teenager, but when, at the age of 16, he is diagnosed with cancer, he must summon his inner super hero.  Giving up, and giving in, to the cancer in his body was never an option.  After many hard fought months, it seems as if Benjamin is indeed super human, conquering cancer better than anyone anticipated.  While in his first year of college, he discovers that he has a second form of cancer, quite likely attributed to the chemo and radiation used to conquer his first cancer.  It will take every ounce of super hero in him to battle a second time.

This book is unlike anything I have ever read.  Benjamin certainly tells it like it is.  He is quite the engaging story teller, and his writing is incredibly real.  I find that I have an incredible amount of respect for Benjamin, his story and the way he tells it.  He pulls no punches, and never comes across as a victim.  There are few people who could face cancer so bravely as adults, and fewer still who can do so as a teenager.

I say frequently that my favorite books are those which tell the stories of real people.  I think that is why this book touched me so deeply.  Benjamin never wanted to become the sick kid, never wanted cancer to define his life.  I think he serves as an inspiration to teenagers facing a variety of illnesses and adversities.  While the book is pretty graphic, and the language is a little rough at times, I still find this book quite appropriate to a young adult audience, as well as adult readers.  Personally, I think Benjamin can serve as an inspiration to us all, regarding whatever it is with which we struggle.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author.

Learn Me Gooder, by John M. Pearson

Jack Woodson is back for another year of teaching adventures.  Each week or so, he recounts his adventures in educating to his friend and former coworker.  Read about the continued trials of Mr. Woodson as he discusses the perils of third grade, the trouble with falling in love, and the ever dreaded Texas standardized tests.

I just love the way Pearson writes the story of Mr. Woodson.  I think it is quite clever how Pearson uses the email format, once again, to help relay the weekly happenings.  It makes the reader feel like they are eavesdropping on real life conversations.  Since I know quite a few teachers, I know how much these amusing stories are grounded in reality!

I really liked the further development of Jack Woodson's character, and the peek into his private life.  The relationship with Jill added a lot to the book, and it was nice to see a bit of vulnerability.  And I just adore the cast of kid characters this time around.  So many endearing and kooky kids.

All in all I thought the book was hilarious.  It will appeal to teachers without a doubt, as well as lots of everyday readers as well.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author.

What Ho, Automaton!, by Chris Dolley

Reggie is an avid fan of detective novels, such as Sherlock Holmes.  When he has the good fortune to cross paths with an automaton named Reeves, he adopts his as a personal assistant of sorts.  First we learn of the pairing's fortuitous meeting, then we learn what happens when Reggie and Reeves team up to investigate the disappearance of several society debutantes.

While I have never read any Wodehouse, I am familiar with the premise of his stories, as well as his iconic characters, so I was able to appreciate the homage that this book was intended to me.  It is a cocktail of Wodehouse and steampunk, with a Sherlock Holmes chaser, and it was intoxicatingly funny.  I found myself snickering and snorting as I read, thinking the entire time "this is pure awesome".

Still a rather new fan to the steampunk genre, I really enjoyed the subtle steampunk aspects to the story.  I particularly loved the Victorian revisionist setting, what with the Queen having mechanical limbs and all.  I found the Reggie and Reeves characters to be well developed, and I loved their interactions.  The first story is the pairing is just a short introduction to them as characters, and an explanation as to how the met.  The real meat and potatoes of the book is the second story, which I found to be hilarious. 

My husband is a big Wodehouse fan, so when I described the book to him, he fell in love with the concept; I think many Wodehouse fans will like the book.  Fans of the steampunk genre will also greatly appreciate, particularly if they have an appreciation for good British humor.  All in all, this book is full of win for me, and I would love to see the author write some follow up stories for Reggie and Reeves.

This book is from my personal library.

The Girl Who Couldn't Say No, by Tracy Englebrecht

Tracy was a young girl from South Africa who found herself in the "family way" at the age of fourteen.  Through the book, we learn what it is really like to be a teen mom, how it affects your life in the long run, and how your life need not be the tragic cliche we all associate with teen parenthood.  We also learn that in order to survive, one must have a sense of humor.

I really enjoyed this book.  I felt like Tracy gave an honest and endearing account of her experience as a teen mother.  Our culture is currently obsessed with teen parenting, and the drama that it can create.  One need only to look at MTV's program line up to confirm this.  Yet Tracy shows that, while teen parenting is not what most girls dream of, nor is it the optimal situation, it does not have to mean a death sentence or doom the mother to a life of trashy drama.  I loved that Tracy did what she needed to do to make life as good as possible for her kids.  I also loved the fact that Tracy parents gave her so much support.

A few reviewers have criticized the fact that Tracy talked about her dating life, and (gasp) the fact that she had sexual partners after have a child at such a young age.  Um, hello, what century are you living in?  Why is it wrong for a young, healthy woman to have, and heaven forbid, enjoy sex?  Why is it so awful that she sought out love and partnership?  

There are definitely some parts of the slang and some cultural references which we foreign to me, being fairly unfamiliar with South African culture, but that did not hinder my ability to appreciate this book.  It is a nice, lighthearted memoir (not all memoirs have to be heartrending and melodramatic by the way) that made me laugh.  I appreciate the honesty, and really enjoyed the nice easy read.  Memoir fans who appreciate lightheartedness would enjoy the book, as would many fans of the teen mom type reality television shows. 

This book was from my personal library.

500 Acres and No Place to Hide, by Susan McCorkindale

We have all heard the old saying "you can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl", right?  Well, Susan pretty much epitomizes that saying.  After her husband convinces her to leave her well paying, prestigious job in New York, and move to a farm in Virginia, Susan has some trouble adapting.  She wears designer heels to do farm work, and deals valiantly with some serious family issues.  And she makes her life work for her as best as she can.

This book was so funny, heartwarming, and endearing, I cannot imagine anyone not loving this book.  Susan had me laughing and crying.  She writes in a way that is very descriptive, but the descriptions are a little unusual, and it serves to keep the reader quite engaged.

While the book is quite funny, there are some really serious issues with which Susan and her family deal.  She does so with levity, which makes them all the more heartbreaking.  It feels more like I am reading a very long email from a very good friend, than a book about someone I do not know.  Susan leaves every bit of her heart on the page.

This book is a follow up to a prior book by the author, which I unfortunately have not read.  However, this book completely stands alone, as the author does a good job of summing up how her life ended up where it did.  I am sure the first book was great, but I did not need to read it to fully appreciate this one.

I received a review copy from the publisher.